Richie Edquid is best known for invading subcultures and exploiting their memes. In his quest to find what’s next he is always next level.

Richie Edquid is a San Diego native who first entered into the events industry by heading local area promotions for an import car enthusiast website, while still in high school. Taking this experience he helped in founding a local web lifestyle magazine.

Having a background in leading street teams, web promotion, and event photography Richie started Rich and Creamy to begin producing night life events.

Rich and Creamy, as an events production and support company, quickly grew out of this – expanding his repertoire to include: representing talent in the fields of fashion, entertainment, art and media; community involvement and organizing within the local Asian and general San Diego public; conferences, conventions, and festivals;and continually backing both high profile and under the radar events within San Diego.

Through the non profit and event work Richie does he almost has commendations from all branches and levels of government except from a judge and the President’s office/cabinet. If you have any leads on how to do this he will buy you a steak dinner. Tweet @RichandCreamy with tips!

Calvin Lee is a self-Proclaimed Media Ho and Design Guy; Tech, Social Media and Twitter Addict. In his spare time, Stunt Doubles for the Hulk and a really Nice Guy! You can even ask Chris Brogan or Guy Kawasaki

Calvin is the Principal and Creative Director of Mayhem Studios. A small award-winning design firm located in Los Angeles, California, developing identity and brand recognition for the business sector across the nation. The Studio uses strategic and creative design with effective messages targeted to the client’s specific audiences to produce identity and branded collateral pieces, annual reports, brochures, logo design, advertising and interactive web sites with social media marketing.

His work has been featured in more than 15 design books, magazines and can be seen on many design websites; profiled on Forbes, BNET and Interviewed by Bloomberg Television for his Twitter Influence; designed for such companies as MGM Studios, Alltop and Guy Kawasaki. You can follow Calvin @MayhemStudios on Twitter.

Alana Joy is a digital marketing strategist with a passion for edgy brands and innovative technology startups. She also provides design and branding services, offering her clients cohesion between insight and aesthetic.

She was the mastermind behind the Facebook Protest, which gained national media attention raising awareness about the importance of privacy and transparency online, and was featured in CNBC’s documentary, The Facebook Obsession.

Alana was co-Host of This Week In Twitter, a webseries interviewing relevant guests and providing insight in regard to social media.

She is former co-Managing Director of Girls In Tech’s Los Angeles chapter, was on the advisory board for Social Media Week LA, and has spoken at numerous events and panels. She also does the occasional tech post for LA Weekly.

She won an LA Web Award for being “LA’s Best Most Shameless Self-Promoter” … and she finds that just as amusing as you do. You can follow Alana on @AlanaJoy on Twitter

Garick Chan believes in technocratic solutions to a communal future, He is a connector, matchmaker and community-builder through both technical staffing and career-advising. He is also the Community Manager for Nimble.com & Communications Chair for Social Media Club Los Angeles. Find him on Twitter at @ilovegarick Or connect with him at about.me/garick

Jonathan Nafarrete is the founding partner at the Orange County based social media agency ActiveMatter.

In the past he participated and was a member of the Ford Fiesta Movement, an innovative social media initiative in which 100 young trendsetters test drove and lived with a Ford Fiesta for six months, traveling as agents and relating their experiences through social networks. Jonathan is also credited for his participation in the Ford Fiesta Project in which he created and contributed to the development of a zombie chasing webisode.

He has also been seen in the original MSN web series, “The Tastemaker”, where contestants tested their social media and marketing expertise through community challenges.

Currently Jonathan is working with clients in developing strategic social media programs and creating outreach programs that drive consumer engagement and advocacy. You can follow Jonathan on Twitter at @Jonathan360.

Sven Johnston is the VP of Strategic Partnership for GigaSavvy an emerging media marketing agency specializing in Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing and Web Design & Development. In 2009 Sven decided to take on LinkedIn and started a campaign to give Orange County its own location code on the very popular social business platform. To support his campaign he founded a group called “We are Orange County!”, which currently has just under 5000 members. After using social and traditional media for over 5 months he finally succeeded and LinkedIn gave into the pressure creating a new location code for Orange County. Sven is very involved in the community sitting on the board of Tech Biz Connection as well as the Social Media Club of Orange County. He volunteers for Laguna Niguel Connectors and is a founding member of Costa Mesa Connectors. He is the co founder of Orange County Connectors that organizes monthly networking events with 100+ in attendance. You can follow Sven at @SvenJohnston on Twitter.

Paul Meyers is a Social Media Marketing Manager for M80 where he works to raise awareness for the Audi brand by engaging with the brand’s fans and followers. Before joining the Audi team, Paul spent four years on staff at Robb Report magazine, driving and reviewing a wide range of cars as the Associate Editor for the publication. He continues to contribute to the magazine’s print and online outlets as a freelance editor. Paul graduated with a bachelor’s degree in American Literature and Culture from UCLA and is a native of California—he currently resides in Los Angeles. You can follow Paul @thePaulMeyers on Twitter.

As a Los Angeles-based tech entrepreneur, Mike Prasad co-founded media site GirlGamer.com, a digital community and media site for female gamers, and later Ani.ME, an anime & manga community and media site. In 2010, using the underlying platform technology developed, Mike founded Bit Love Media, a community-driven media network focused on niche audiences, blending social platform and content publishing functionality.

Previously, as a founder/director at {M} Consultancy and consultant since 2000 focused on brands, marketing, social platforms and niche audiences, Mike is best known for his key role in creating and launching the industry-changing twittering food truck Kogi BBQ, where he created and launched the brand, identity, social media and marketing, business development, and more. He also was half of the team that pioneered the first FourSquare Special Offer Campaign with Fatburger, and more recently, for his success with launching Ani.ME to grow to 100,000+ Facebook fans in under 3 months.

Mike is a frequent speaker on social media and integrated marketing focused on niche and cultural audiences and is also an early investor in MobileRoadie, where he facilitated key deals, such as the Wynn Hotels app. Mike also advises 2 undisclosed/stealth startups. You can follow Mike on Twitter at @MikePrasad

Sukhjit (it’s pronounced sook-jeet) is a video blogger and joined Sony Electronics as their social media evangelist in September 2009. She’s worked as a producer and writer at television networks like Travel Channel, HGTV and the Fine Living Network but her gadget and innovation obsession actually started along with her career at the first 24-hr technology television network called TechTV. Sukhjit has also spent some time in social media startups working for companies like Seemsic and PeopleBrowsr. Today she spends her days as a one woman band, shooting, editing, producing and distributing blogs and vlogs for Sony Electronics. If you can’t find her in real life doing yoga, eating chocolate or hanging out with friends and family, look for her on twitter as @sukhjit or on her video blog sukhjit.me.

Sukhjit will be presenting the following session on:

The Video Bloggers Toolkit

Tools and tricks for easily bringing video to your social channels and an open forum discussion for what works and doesn’t via user generated video.

Social Media Camp: San Diego is April 30th from 9am-5pm at Sony Electronics. You can purchase your tickets at our EventBrite Page.

Dylan Whitman: Partner, Flank DigitalSince the start of Flank Digital and through Dylan’s technical leadership, Flank has added 30 accounts in just one year. The accounts range from well-known companies such as Eastern Mountain Sports to niche players who desire to maximize their web presence. During that timeframe Dylan has also identified and led the development of two new proprietary products, a digital coupon business and a social e-commerce product. Prior to co-founding Flank in 2010, Dylan spent three years as a director in Urth Brands, an SEO consulting and e-commerce business. Between 2005 and 2007 Dylan worked in the mortgage industry as a banker. Dylan also spent four years in the United States Navy. During his time in the military he worked at the Pentagon and on nuclear programs in the Middle East. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and numerous others. Prior to the Navy, Dylan attended Flagler College. Dylan began building web sites when he was just 14 years old.

Dylan will be presenting the following session:

The Psychology of the Social Consumer: Why and how consumers interact with your brand socially and how you can leverage the consumer ego to grow your brand and generate more sales.

When someone asks “What was your inspiration for your art?” you dont always expect the answer “Geek Love!” But in this era where anyone with a blog can become just as powerful as the mainstream press, and anyone with a youtube channel can be a celebrity, finding your audience can be as simple as “liking” the Star Wars page on Facebook.This panel seeks to look at this phenomenon, where geek “obsession” fuels, inspires and enables artistic creation.

Brian Bielawski (co-creator, co-writer, performer) has been a professional actor for 12 years with his master’s degree from the Tony Award winning Old Globe Theatre. In 2005 he created GAM3RS /the play with Walter G. Meyer and was invited to perform at New York’s International Fringe Festival, MIT, the New England Institute of Art, and other venues nationwide. In 2007 he voiced numerous characters for X-Box 360’s Saint’s Row II. Film and TV credits include a recurring role on CBS’ s Guiding Light and the indie title Felix Culpa. Off-Broadway he performed with Manhattan Theatre Club and Theatre By the Blind. He is a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Actors’ Equity Association. He comes from a family of gamers in Naperville, IL.

Walter G. Meyer (co-creator, co-writer, co-producer) has written three published books, his most recent novel, Rounding Third, has been nominated for a Lambda Literary Award and is receiving rave reviews. For more than twenty years he has been a professional writer and his work has appeared in dozens of newspapers and magazines including the L.A. Times and Kiplinger’s. Several of his screenplays have been optioned by Hollywood producers. He has also produced and directed videos for music, political campaigns and has worked on web series, television series and independent movies. He has a degree from the School of Communications at Penn State.

DR. HORRIBLE

Andy Lowe winner of the California Young Playwrights(1994), Co-founder and Producing Artistic Director of the San Diego Asian American Repertory Theatre(‘95-’05). Co-developed San Diego’s first Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month Festival (‘01-’03), received an official mayoral commendation, and was recognized as one of the “Top 30 most influential Asian Americans Under the age of 30″ (Political Circus Magazine ‘01).

Andy is currently employed with the La Jolla Playhouse where he serves as the Theatre in Residence Program Coordinator, and continues to independently develop events and theatrical projects through ChinesePirateProductions.com including DR. HORRIBLE’S SING ALONG BLOG -LIVE- (www.IWantToSingAlong.com) and www.Gam3rCon.com.

Brian Hammond’s performance credits include roles at the San Diego Rep, Sea World, Legoland and Starlight, as well as touring nationally and internationally with VEE Entertainment’s Dragontales Live!. He has musical directed numerous productions, received the 2008 Aubrey Award for Best Musical Direction, and has held teaching positions with the Coronado School of the Arts and Young Audiences of San Diego. He is currently a Teaching Artist for the La Jolla Playhouse and the Old Globe.

Jane Lui is a singer/songwriter, who is classically trained in piano and voice. Having toured US East & West coasts, Canada, Sydney (AU), London (UK). Her cultural and musical influences have produced a sound that has critics eliciting such names as Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, Cat Power, and Rufus Wainwright. She has opened for performers such as Vienna Teng, Jay Nash, Jim Bianco, Kate Earl, Tom Brousseau and Jason Mraz. She recently developed a following through YouTube, where she produces music with post-production videos to show her work as an arranger and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 she was featured as YouTube’s Unsigned Pick with over 1.5 Million views. Her second record, Barkentine, was Best Recording Nominee in the San Diego Music Awards 2008. Over $11,600 was raised directly from fans to fund her most recently released album, Goodnight Company. This is her first time acting, and is really excited to share her geeky-Whedon-Fan side. http://JaneLui.com

Eben Brooks is a singer/songwriter, the frontman for The Eben Brooks Band, and “The Working Class Superhero of San Diego”. And, as the lyricist/performer of the parody song “Hey There Cthulhu”, he is something of a YouTube sensation. He is also the originator and organizer of the Heroes Against Hunger Concert Series in support of the San Diego Food Bank.

In addition to the above, he is also a writer and a photographer. Most of all, he is a lover of life, and he hopes that his music conveys that love to everyone who listens.

Fernando has been involved in film, acting, and martial arts since high school. He started making short action films in 2000 and created Jabronie Pictures in an effort to produce short action comedy films and non-action films. Influenced by anime, Star Wars, Jackie Chan, and Kevin Smith films, Fernando has created a unique action style infused with rich characters and contemporary storytelling.

Sunny Smith

Sunny Smith is an actress, singer, writer, and director in theatre and film. Originally from Wisconsin, she found her way to California to pursue a career in the entertainment field. From there, she met Fernando Huerto in a college acting class where they became close friends and long time film partners, after being asked to play a role in his short film. She is now the co-owner of Jabronie Pictures along with Fernando, creating and starring in many of their own movies together.

Neil Aguilera

Neil Aguilera is the primary camera man and assistant editor for Jabronie Pictures. He is a man of few words.

Jabronie Pictures will be presenting the following session:

“Creating a Youtube fan base and crowd sourcing a Youtube series”

San Diego’s premiere independent film group talks about homemade action films and the influences that inspired their work. Best known for their tokusatsu webseries, Battle Hero Absolute, and the action epic, Final Advent, Jabronie Pictures has gathered a unique internet following with their eccentric action comedy based style of movies.

Erick Castillo is the co-founder of Disciplined Monkey Studios, a geek culture site that started off as a podcast broadcast and has developed into a video game, movie, and technology reviewer that has also started to add simple lifestyle articles based on the different staff members age and their life situation. Also taking on the role of central hub of as many independent geek culture sites as they meet the writers or editors at different events, for example www.theotakuologist.com www.kryptodies.comand www.racialicious.com. Mr. Castillo moved to San Diego in 1998 from Tijuana Mexico and graduated from Chula Vista Senior High and attended South Western College for 3 semesters, and in July of 2007 with his Co-Founder Jorge Alduenda they launched the website the day prior to San Diego Comic Con and have continued to grow exponentially over the last few years. Since starting the site Erick has had to become a writer, editor for both sound and video, public relations and media manager for the site to fit the growing needs of his company. In a podcast world filled with celebrity podcasters like Adam Carolla, Marc Maron, Chris Hardwick, and so on it makes it necessary to look for either a more unique angle or find a way to appeal to an audience.

Erick will be presenting the following session:

Podcasting 101

This session will show you how to start your own podcast, the simple tools needed, and some of the service providers that offer the broadcast RSS feeds needed to be able to submit to iTunes and the Zune Marketplace.

Sugar Jones is a dreamer, writer, mom, and traveler. She loves life… even when it’s not so fabulous. She hates to repeat herself because life is just too damn short to be talking to people who don’t listen. Always a cheerleader for living out loud, she hopes to encourage others through her blog and various on-line bull horns to quit whining and get to living their one and only life.

Sondra Drahos is a Certified Parent Educator and Life Coach. She is passionate about honoring families, supporting parents and enriching relationships. She lives in Solana Beach with her husband and two boys.

Sugar is going to be moderating a panel with Downtown Rob, Kara DeFrias, Aaron Heier and Sondra Santos Drahos about:

PASSION IRL
“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night
and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle
which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” ~e.e. cummings

When we are true to ourselves, we find what makes our souls sing. We find a passion for a thing that makes us come alive. We live authentically, and by our very natural actions, invite others to live passionately, as well.

But it isn’t always easy to stay on that path.

In, “Passion IRL”, Sugar Jones, a true believer in living out loud, will moderate a discussion with three others who by being themselves and following their own paths, have inspired others to give
back, get real, and enjoy life.